Sealing system for an annular space

1. A system for sealing an annular space between an inner wall of a tubular opening and one tube, cable or duct which extends through the tubular opening in an axial direction thereof, wherein the system comprises:

at least two segmental parts for forming a sealing plug in the annular space,

each segmental part is made of an elastic material,

each segmental part being provided with a small-diameter-end for facilitating insertion of the sealing plug in the annular space and a large-diameter-end for positioning at an end of the tubular opening from which the segmental parts are inserted into the annular space,

the sealing plug having an axis running in a longitudinal direction,

each segmental part further having a number of outer ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction for defining, in use, outer contact surfaces that extend in a circumferential direction around the sealing plug axis between the sealing plug and the inner wall of the opening,

the circumferential direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,

each segmental part further being provided with a number of inner ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction for defining, in use, inner contact surfaces that extend in the circumferential direction around the sealing plug axis between the sealing plug and the tube, cable or duct,

wherein at least one of the outer ribs and at least one of the inner ribs meet, in an uninserted state of the sealing plug, the following geometric conditions:

the at least one outer rib has, in cross-section, a shape of a sawtooth having a rising surface rising radially outwardly toward the large-diameter-end of the sealing plug and having a falling surface with an angled inward bend for facilitating relative movement of parts of the falling surface on opposite sides of a pivotal point of the angled inward bend;

the at least one inner rib has a top surface that is a substantially cylindrical surface extending in the longitudinal direction and in the circumferential direction around the sealing plug axis for forming one of the inner contact surfaces; and

the pivotal point of the angled inward bend is positioned relative to the top surface such that a straight line extending in a transverse direction can both coincide with the pivotal point of the angled inward bend and intersect the top surface, the transverse direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a lower part of the falling surface between the pivotal point and a central axis of the sealing plug includes an angle in a range of 30-60 degrees with the longitudinal direction.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein an upper part of the falling surface between the pivotal point and an apex of the sawtooth includes an angle in the range of 90-70 degrees with the longitudinal direction.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a lower part of the falling surface has a length which is about 70% of a length of the top surface.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein an apex of the sawtooth is positioned relative to the top surface such that a straight line extending in the transverse direction can both coincide with the apex of the sawtooth and intersect the top surface.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein an upper part of the falling surface is positioned relative to the top surface such that a straight line extending in the transverse direction can both coincide with the upper part of the falling surface and intersect the top surface.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the rising surface includes, along its entire surface, a constant angle with the longitudinal direction.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner rib is, on either side of the top surface, further provided with a sloped surface which extends away from the top surface, and wherein a slope of each sloped surface encloses an angle with the transverse direction such that bending of the inner rib is substantially inhibited when the segmental part is inserted into the annular space.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the inner ribs are, in the longitudinal direction, positioned at a distance from each other.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the large-diameter-end is provided with an outer flange intended to be placed against an outer edge of the tubular opening.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the large-diameter-end is suitable for positioning in the end of the tubular opening and wherein diameters of the outer ribs are slightly larger than a diameter of the large-diameter-end.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least three of the outer ribs and three of the inner ribs meet, in the uninserted state of the sealing plug, the geometric conditions.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the segmental parts is made of a rubber.

14. The system according to claim 2 , wherein an upper part of the falling surface between the pivotal point and an apex of the sawtooth includes an angle in the range of 90-70 degrees with the longitudinal direction.

15. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the lower part of the falling surface has a length which is about 70% of a length of the top surface.

16. The system according to claim 3 , wherein a lower part of the falling surface has a length which is about 70% of a length of the top surface.

17. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the range is 40-50 degrees.

18. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the rubber has a Shore A hardness of between 70-74.

19. A system for sealing an annular space between an inner wall of a tubular opening and one tube, cable or duct which extends through the tubular opening in an axial direction thereof, wherein the system comprises:

at least two segmental parts for forming a sealing plug in the annular space,

each segmental part is made of an elastic material,

each segmental part being provided with a small-diameter-end for facilitating insertion of the sealing plug in the annular space and a large-diameter-end for positioning at an end of the tubular opening from which the segmental parts are inserted into the annular space,

the sealing plug having an axis running in a longitudinal direction,

each segmental part further having a number of outer ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction for defining, in use, outer contact surfaces that extend in a circumferential direction around the sealing plug axis between the sealing plug and the inner wall of the opening,

the circumferential direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,

each segmental part further being provided with a number of inner ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction for defining, in use, inner contact surfaces that extend in the circumferential direction around the sealing plug axis between the sealing plug and the tube, cable or duct,

wherein at least one of the outer ribs and at least one of the inner ribs meet, in an uninserted state of the sealing plug, the following geometric conditions:

the at least one outer rib has, in cross-section, a shape of a sawtooth having a rising surface rising radially outwardly toward the large-diameter-end of the sealing plug and having a falling surface with an angled inward bend for facilitating relative movement of parts of the falling surface on opposite sides of a pivotal point of the angled inward bend;

the at least one inner rib has a top surface that is a radially innermost substantially cylindrical surface of the plug extending in the longitudinal direction and in the circumferential direction around the sealing plug axis for forming one of the inner contact surfaces; and

the pivotal point of the angled inward bend is positioned relative to the top surface such that a straight line extending in a transverse direction can both coincide with the pivotal point of the angled inward bend and intersect the top surface, the transverse direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.